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Kiwis look to clinch series in 2nd ODI

Whangarei: Having coasted to a comfortable 90-run victory in the first one-dayer (ODI) at Dunedin, New Zealand will be looking to settle the issue in their favour when they take on Zimbabwe in the second match of the series at Whangarei on Monday.

Zimbabwe's batting failure the other day which followed a disastrous outing in the one-off Test at Napier put the the odds heavily in favour of the home side.

Earlier on Friday, allrounder Rob Nicol took four wickets as New Zealand bowled out Zimbabwe for 158 to win the first of three ODIs by 90 runs.

Nicol atoned for his duck when opening New Zealand's innings by putting in an outstanding bowling performance which helped the hosts skittle Zimbabwe in 41.1 overs at the University Oval.

Captain Brendan Taylor top-scored for Zimbabwe with 58 from 68 balls and put on 52 for its fourth wicket with wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu (20). But the pair were the best hope of the Zimbabwe innings and when they were out — Taibu with the total at 67, Taylor at 97 — the innings steadily dwindled.

A partnership of 34 for the ninth wicket between the veteran Ray Price — playing his 100th one-day international — and Keegan Meth added 34 but that was the last show of defiance from Zimbabwe.

Price finished 26 not out while Nicol took 4-19 from 4.1 overs and Mills 3-26 from eight overs.

Shingirai Masakadza took 4-46 in a display of controlled medium pace bowling as Zimbabwe held to New Zealand to a total of 248.

Masakadza toiled into a strong wind for 9.3 overs as Zimbabwe bowled out New Zealand in the 49th over of their innings on a greenish pitch.